Tiltably-removable automaticallylocking sash window



G. W. LOVE Jan. 21, 1964 TILTABLY-REMOVABLE AUTOMATICALLY-LOCKING SASH WINDOW 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5, 1961 FIG-I ATTORNEYS Jan. 21, 1964 e. w. LOVE 3,118,190

TILTABLY-REMOVABLE AUTOMATICALLY-LOCKING SASH WINDOW Filed Dec. 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

GORDON W. LOVE I 6mm? ATTORNEYS atent iiice Patented Jan. 21, 1964 3,118,19fi ELTAELY-REREGVABLE AUTGMATICALLY- 'LGCKING SASH WLNBGW Gordon W. Love, 962 Abbey Road, Birmingham, Mich Filed Dec. 5, 1961, &r. No. 57,161 8 Claims. (Cl. 26-42) This invention relates to tiltably-removable sash Windows and, in particular, to tiltable sash windows containing automatically-locking spring sash balances.

One object of this invention is to provide a tiltablyremovable automatically-locking spring-bmanced sash window which is connected to a sash balancing sp-r-ing within the channel sash guide by a pivot element, rotation of which automatically locks and unlocks the pivot element relatively to the sash guide.

Another object is to provide a tiltably-removable sash window of the foregoing character wherein the pivot element is in the form of a unitary rotatable member which is connected to the sash balancing spring so as to provide a single moving part betwen the sash and the sash balancing spring.

Another object is to provide a tiltably-removable sash window of the foregoing character wherein the pivot element contains a cam which locks the pivot element against the sash guide in response to tilting of the sash preparatory to removal thereof from the window frame.

Other objects and advantages or" the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section through a double-hung tiltably-removable automatically-locking spring balance sash window installation, according to one form of the invention, with the middle portion thereof omitted to permit presentation on a large scale, taken along the line I1 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal section through the construction shown in FIGURE 1, taken along the line 2-2 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of a double-hung tiltably-removable sash window installation viewed from the interior of the room and including tiltably-removable automatically-locking spring-balanced sash windows, shown in FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical section through the self-locking pivot element and adjacent members, taken along the line !-4 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical section at right angles to that of FIGURE 4, taken along the line 55 therein; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 66 in FIGURE 4, showing the connection of the pivot element to the sash.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGURES 1 to 3 inclusive show a tiltably-rernovable automatically-locking spring-balanced sash window installation, generally designated 1%, according to one form of the invention as including a window frame 12 having on opposite sides 14 thereof two resiliently'mounted spring-balanced vertical sash guide units 16 having yielding engagement with lower and upper double-dung sliding sash luits l8 and 2% respectively. FIGURE 1 shows the upper sash unit 2% in its normal or raised position, whereas FIGURE 2 shows the upper sash unit 29 lowered so as to show the complete relationship and more clearly illustrate the invention, al-

though not strictly shown in the section plane 2-2. Each of the lower and upper sash units 18 or 2t} is provided with side rails 22.

The lower sash unit 18 is provided with a bottom rail 24, the upper sash unit 269 with a top rail 26, and the two are provided with meeting rails E8 and 30, only one of which is shown in FIGURE 3, the other being concealed behind it, but shown in FIGURE 2. The usual window panes 32- are mounted in the open centers of the lower and upper sash units 13 and 2%. Each of the vertical sash rails 22 (FIGURE 2) is provided with a central rib 34 having fiat rabbets as on opposite sides thereof slidably engaging the correspondingly-shaped channels 38 in each of the metal sash guides 4d of each sash guide unit 16.

Each of the sash guides 4-9 between its two channel portions 33 has a central rib portion 42, provided at vertically-spaced intervals with conical screwhead retaining portions 44 adapted to rotatably retain countersunk adjusting screws 46. The latter are threaded into nuts 48 forming the outer spring abutments of sash gniide supporting springs 50. The inner ends of the spring Stl, which are disposed in vertically-spaced parallel relationship to one another, are seated in vertically-elongated channel-shaped casings 52 which are mounted in vertical grooves 54 recessed into the vertical window frame side members 14 and s cured thereby by screws (not shown) or other suitable fasteners. The casings 52 are flanged at their forward ed es in order to retain the nuts 43 within the casings 52.

Each sash uide 4-9 is made of suitable metal or other material, either by extrusion or, as shown in FIGURE 2, by the rolling of sheet metal, and includes two laterallyspaced vertically-elongated spring housing portions 56 forming the stationary part of two sash balance units, genrally designated 53. The sash guides 40 terminate at their opposite edges in hollow ribbed or flanged edge portions 66* which engage the outer rabbets as in the sash side rails 22. Each of the housing portions 56 of the sash guides as has opposite side walls 57 and an elongated vertical slot 62 separating its laterflly-spaced reverselybent front wall portions or entrance flanges 64-.

Mounted within each housing portion 56 of each sash guide 40 is an elongated helical sash-balancing tension spring 6 5, the upper end (not shown) of which is anchored to the upper end of the sash guide 40 by being hooked over the upper end of its respective housing portion 56. The lower end of each sash balancing spring 66 (FIGURES 4 and 5) is provided with a hook portion 63 which is received within an annular groove 74) in the inner locking portion 72 or" a pivot element or pivotal balance locking element 74 and hooked around the bottom portion '76 within the annular groove 70. The inner portion '72 of the pivot element 7 is connected by a neck portion 78 to an outer or operating portion or tab 80 of vertically-elongated cross-section (FIGURE 6), the neck portion 73 passing through the entrance slot 62 of the spring balance housing portion 56. The inner portion 72 of the pivot element 7 is of irregular cross-section, it having in part a body portion 82 of reduced diameter circular cross-section (FIGURE 5) having a maximum transverse width which is less than the transverse internal width of the housing portion and in part of enlarged diameter arcuate cross-section at 84 having an overall transverse width which is slightly greater than the transverse internal width of the housing portion 5:? tform carn portions 84. The cam portions 34% are rotated into engagement with the opposite side walls 57 of the sash balance housing portion 56 in response to removal of the sash unit 18 or by tilting it into the position shown in FIG- UB5 1, as explained below in connection with the operation of the invention. The inner portion 72 of the pivot element 74 loosely and slidably fits the interior of its respective housing portion 56 when the operating portion or tab 8d is in the vertical position of FIGURE 6 during normal use of the window.

The opposite end portions of the bottom sash rail 24 and meeting rail 39 of the lower sash l8 and upper sash 29 respectively are provided at their lower corners with parallel-walled vertically-elongated notches, slots or recesses 86 (FIGURE 6) which loosely and slidably receive the tabs or operating portions 863 or" the pivot elements '74. The notches or slots as for purposes of simplification are shown as formed directly in their respective rails 24 or 39, whereas in actual practice they are contained within an insert (not shown) of harder and tougher material, such as of metal or plastic, for example the synthetic plastic known commercially as nylon.

When the upper and lower sash units 20 and 18 are in their parallel double-hung positions with the window closed (FIGURE 3), the upper rail 26 of the upper sash unit 26 engages the top frame member 83 of the window frame 12 (FIGURE 1) while the bottom rail 24 of the lower sash unit 13 engages the downwardly and outwardly inclined sill 90 of the window frame 12. The sill at its upper end or interior edge is rabbeted into the socalled stool 92 which is mounted immediately above the apron 94. The vertical side members 14 of the window frame 12 engage the top member 88 and sill 9h.

In the operation of the invention, with the upper and lower sash units in their normal parallel double-hung positions of FIGURES 1 and 2, let it be assumed that the user desires to remove the lower sash unit 13 for the purpose of cleaning the window pane 32 thereof or for other purposes. It will be understood that the'procedure for removing the upper sash unit 2% follows a similar procedure.

To remove the sash unit 18, the user grasps its top rail 23 while pushing sidewise to the left (FEGURE 2) in order to compress the sash guide springs 5d and push the lefthaud sash guide 46 inward. At the same time, he swings the top rail 26 of the sash unit 18 toward himself, as shown by the dotted lines in FIGURE. 1, so that the sash unit 18 pivots around the pivot elements 74 While rotating them by the tabs Sii in the slots or notches 36. The consequent rotation of the inner portion 72 of each pivot element 74 brings its enlarged diameter cam portions 8 5 into frictional locking engagement with the side walls 57 of the spring housing portions 55 (FluURE 5), locking the balancing spring 66 in its tensioned position. The operator then removes the sash l2 by pulling upward in its inclined position to withdraw the slots or notches 36 from en agement with the now-inclined tabs (FEGURE 1).

To reinsert the sash unit 18 after washing or for other purposes, the user reverses the above-described procedure by placing the sash unit 13 in the inclined position shown in FIGURE 1 and inserting the notches or slots 8% of its bottom rail 24 over the now-inclined tabs 3%, sliding the sash unit 18 downward in its inclined position until the tabs 80 bottom in the respective notches or slots 86. The operator then swings the top rail 28 of the sash unit 13 upward toward the window frame 12, action rotating the tabs 8t and their respective pivot elements 74-, withdrawing the cam portions 84 from frictional locking engagement with the opposite side walls 57 of the sash balance housing portion 56 of the sash guide 49. At the same time, the opposite side rails 22 of the window sash unit 1% push the sash guides 46 upward away from one another, compressing their springs 59 and permitting the sash unit side rails 22. to swing into a vertical plane where the ribs 34 drop into tneir respective channels 3% (FIGURE 2) in the sash guides 4b, which thereupon return to their normal positions under the thrust of their su porting springs 59. The sash 13, thus returned to its vertical po sition, is held in any raised position by the frictional engagernent of the sash guides it with the side rails 22, while at the same time the weight or" the sash unit 18 is counterbalanced by the counterbalancing springs 65. The pivot elements 74 slide freely up and down when the sash i8 is in its vertical position, due to the rotation of the pivot elements '74 disengaging the cam portions 84 from the side walls 57 (FlGURE 5). Similar instructions apply to the operation of the upper sash unit 2&3, hence a repetition thereof is deemed unnecessary.

What I claim is:

l. A tiltably-removable automatically-locking resiliently-balanced window sash construction adapted to be installed in a window frame, said construction comprising a pair of elongated vertical sash guides adapted to be mounted on opposite sides of the window frame, at least one of said sash guides being adapted to be resiliently mounted on one side of the window frame, each of said sash guides having an elongated hollow vertical sash balance housing portion with an elongated vertical entrance slot therein, a sash unit removably mounted on said sash guides for vertical sliding motion relatively thereto and having coupling-engaging portions thereon disposed adjacent said slots of said sash guides, a resilient sash-balancing member mounted within each housing portion and having one end portion anchored thereto, and a pivotal balancelocking element having an inner locking part connected to said resilient member and rotatably and slidably mounted in each housing portion and an outer coupling part unitarily connected to said locking part through said slot and detachably engageable with said sash unit coupling-engaging portion, said inner locking part having a body portion with a maximum transverse width which is less than the transverse internal width of said housing portion and having a housing gripping portion projecting.

transversely outward from said body portion, said body portion and said gripping portion having a combined width partly therearound and wherein said resilient member is' seated in said recess.

4. A window sash construction, according to claim 3,

wherein said recess comprises a groove and wherein said resilient member has an end portion encircling and seated in said groove.

5. An automatically-locking resiliently-balanced sash guide unit for tiltably-removable sash windows comprising an elongated sash guide having an elongated hollow sash balance housing portion with an elongated entrance slot therein, a resilient sash-balancing member mounted within said housing portion and having one end portion anchored thereto, and a pivotal balance-locking element having an inner locking part connected to said resilient member and rotatably and slidably mounted in said housing portion and an outer coupling part unitarily connected to said locking part through said slot, said inner locking part having a body portion with a maximum transverse width which is less than the transverse internal width of said housing portion and having a housing gripping portion projecting transversely outward from said body portion, said body portion and said gripping portion having a combined width slightly greater than the transverse internal width of said housing portion and responsive to the turning of said outer coupling part for lockingly engaging said housing gripping portions with the adjacent wall of said housing portion.

6. A sash guide unit, according to claim 5, wherein said gripping portion includes a cam projection extending transversely outward relatively to the axis of rotation of said locking part.

7. A sash guide unit, according to claim 5, wherein said inner part has a recess extending at least partly therearound and wherein said resilient member is seated in said recess.

8. A sash guide unit, according to claim 7, wherein said recess comprises a groove and wherein said resilient member has an end portion encircling and seated in said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Peters et al Sept. 25, 1962 3,055,063 Peters Sept. 25, 1962 

5. AN AUTOMATICALLY-LOCKING RESILIENTLY-BALANCED SASH GUIDE UNIT FOR TILTABLY-REMOVABLE SASH WINDOWS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SASH GUIDE HAVING AN ELONGATED HOLLOW SASH BALANCE HOUSING PORTION WITH AN ELONGATED ENTRANCE SLOT THEREIN, A RESILIENT SASH-BALANCING MEMBER MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING PORTION AND HAVING ONE END PORTION ANCHORED THERETO, AND A PIVOTAL BALANCE-LOCKING ELEMENT HAVING AN INNER LOCKING PART CONNECTED TO SAID RESILIENT MEMBER AND ROTATABLY AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING PORTION AND AN OUTER COUPLING PART UNITARILY CONNECTED TO SAID LOCKING PART THROUGH SAID SLOT, SAID INNER LOCKING PART HAVING A BODY PORTION WITH A MAXIMUM TRANSVERSE WIDTH WHICH IS LESS THAN THE TRANSVERSE INTERNAL WIDTH OF SAID HOUSING PORTION AND HAVING A HOUSING GRIPPING PORTION PROJECTING TRANSVERSELY OUTWARD FROM SAID BODY PORTION, SAID BODY PORTION AND SAID GRIPPING PORTION HAVING A COMBINED WIDTH SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE TRANSVERSE INTERNAL WIDTH OF SAID HOUSING PORTION AND RESPONSIVE TO THE TURNING OF SAID OUTER COUPLING PART FOR LOCKINGLY ENGAGING SAID HOUSING GRIPPING PORTIONS WITH THE ADJACENT WALL OF SAID HOUSING PORTION. 